A daft question or 3 about condensation!

[Wee Bold Davy]

While waiting to take delivery of our first van in June, we've been busying ourselves getting all the necessary 'bits' together.
A recent purchase of an external thermal screen got me thinking.
With condensation in mind.
Are they necessary in summer as well as the cooler months?
Do we require ventilation at night in summer and the cooler months?
What about having heating on overnight, what difference does that make?
Sorry if these seem like silly questions but they haven't occurred to me till now

 

[RogerThat]

I use mine in the summer during the day sometimes, they're great at keeping heat from direct sunlight out too

 

[Clarky]

The way to stop too much condensation is ventilation.
More difficult in winter because you want to be warm.
Just make sure you keep a roof light open a bit when cooking, showering etc.
If you have a roof light over the bed you will probably find that it isn't sealed all the way round. That is to make sure there is a little ventilation while you are sleeping.
I find that keeping the small roof light over the cab area open just a bit at night helps keep the windscreen clear of condensation.
Many of us carry a small rechargeable Karcher Window Vac which is brilliant for clearing the screen on a cold morning. If you have decent thermal screens you probably won't need one though.

Richard.

 

[WillH]

In the winter we leave the heating on low, around 14°C, and leave a rooflight open a little. This keeps the van ventilated and helps prevent condensation.

 

[Vanderek]

Always have some ventilation...and let it out..

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[Minxy]

A recent purchase of an external thermal screen got me thinking.
With condensation in mind.

The below is my take on it:

Are they necessary in summer as well as the cooler months?

Not necessary in summer but they will reduce the heat coming into the MH if you are facing the sun, in winter they are the only thing that will reduce, if not totally prevent, condensation in the cab.

Do we require ventilation at night in summer and the cooler months?

No as there is usually some vents allowing air in anyway, but some people like to increase it by leaving a vent open at night, obviously in summer this makes it more comfortable too if its warm, in winter it might reduce condensation (depending on where the vent is) but you will also lose warm air and cool the interior (that way you reduce the condensation as the temperature equalises inside and out).

What about having heating on overnight, what difference does that make?

If you have heating on you could actually increase the condensation as the interior gets warmer than the outside temperature which will drop at night.

Its about deciding what you are comfortable doing ... we don't have heating on at night even though I feel the cold as hubby and the dogs would cook, so I have a hoodie top for when it's cool and put that on with the hood up, it actually works very well! We don't have any vents open as there's enough air from the permanent ventilation anyway ... too much sometimes!!!

 

[two]

You shouldn't need external blinds most of the time, only in winter. In winter they'll keep you warmer and reduce condensation.
Ventilation will reduce the amount of condensation you may get, but how much you get will depend on how much cooking or water boiling you do and how cold any surfaces are allowed to get.
Don't fret. Get out and enjoy it. You'll soon discover what works best for you.

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

The below is my take on it:

Not necessary in summer but they will reduce the heat coming into the MH if you are facing the sun, in winter they are the only thing that will reduce, if not totally prevent, condensation in the cab.

No as there is usually some vents allowing air in anyway, but some people like to increase it by leaving a vent open at night, obviously in summer this makes it more comfortable too if its warm, in winter it might reduce condensation (depending on where the vent is) but you will also lose warm air and cool the interior (that way you reduce the condensation as the temperature equalises inside and out).

If you have heating on you could actually increase the condensation as the interior gets warmer than the outside temperature which will drop at night.

Its about deciding what you are comfortable doing ... we don't have heating on at night even though I feel the cold as hubby and the dogs would cook, so I have a hoodie top for when it's cool and put that on with the hood up, it actually works very well! We don't have any vents open as there's enough air from the permanent ventilation anyway ... too much sometimes!!!

Thanks Mel for a very comprehensive reply. I know there's a lot of common sense to it, but till you've actually done it you can't be sure

 

[Minxy]

Thanks Mel for a very comprehensive reply. I know there's a lot of common sense to it, but till you've actually done it you can't be sure

You're welcome, we don't go abroad in winter normally so don't bother taking our external blinds with us and instead have a Karcher window vac to suck up the condensation in the cab and it works a treat - it's amazing how much water can build up on the cab windows overnight especially if camping in -5 as we did a couple of times on our last holiday.

 

[Minxy]

Just some tips to reduce condensation/moisture in the van normally:

• after a shower always open the vent or window in the washroom for at least 10 minutes
• use lids on pans to keep steam in (it also means you can lower the heat and save gas)
• don't let the kettle boil it's head of & if it has a 'whistle' put it back on after pouring
• if cooking pasta/rice etc pour the water away outside
• if you have a pressure cooker take it outside to reduce the pressure (ie let the steam out)

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[two]

and #6:
Sleep with your mouth closed!

 

[scousebird]

We are in France in cool temps atm. The silver screen is doing it's job admirably, very little condensation in the morning but we have the heating off overnight as we find we are comfortably warm under the quilt, that though is personal preference.

@Minxy Girl has given you great information

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

and #6:
Sleep with your mouth closed!

Always do! Goes back to my camping days in Scotland!

 

[Barclaybasher]

I find condensation on the cab windows useful - wiping it off - cleans the inside!

 

[two]

.. we .. have a Karcher window vac to suck up the condensation in the cab and it works a treat - it's amazing how much water can build up on the cab windows overnight..

Karcher window vac is very good but early models (WV1?) drip more than I believe the newer ones do (WV5?).

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[Barclaybasher]

Karcher window vac is very good but early models (WV1?) drip more than I believe the newer ones do (WV5?).

I think you need the WV5 XL GTi special edition...

.....it's a cloth.....

 

[Minxy]

Karcher window vac is very good but early models (WV1?) drip more than I believe the newer ones do (WV5?).

They all wee themselves so we put a cotton ankle sock on ours and do the bottom of each window first with it at a 90 degree angle then turn it the right way round and do the rest, it still wets itself a bit but this helps and the sock stops it going all over the dash.

 

[Minxy]

I think you need the WV5 XL GTi special edition...

.....it's a cloth.....

Nah ... you just need a 'nappy' for it ... see above!